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HRM and SMEs: Contextualizing Significance, Neglect and Meaning in an International Context

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International Human Resources Management

Part of the book series: Management and Industrial Engineering ((MINEN))

Abstract

While it is increasingly acknowledged that HRM is critical to international competitive success, debate has rarely extended to encompass small–medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This chapter presents economic, ideological and practical arguments for examining SMEs, while also exploring reasons for their relative neglect in HRM research to date. The second section of the chapter provides an overview of the various and contested definitions of both HRM and SMEs. In so doing, it highlights the merits of broader, culturally sensitive, all-encompassing definitions in the form of analytical HRM and smaller firms. Overall, it is clear from the chapter that the international footprint of SMEs is significant, growing and deserving of greater recognition and research focus. Better understanding the significance, neglect and meaning of HRM in SMEs may facilitate with this task.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dublin City University Business School, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Glasnevin, Ireland

    Brian Harney

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Correspondence to Brian Harney .

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  1. Department of Management School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Carolina Machado

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Harney, B. (2015). HRM and SMEs: Contextualizing Significance, Neglect and Meaning in an International Context. In: Machado, C. (eds) International Human Resources Management. Management and Industrial Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15308-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15308-7_7

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